Texans ready to part with Foreman

Leading tackler in '02 expendable after team signs LB Greenwood

Published 6:30 am, Saturday, March 5, 2005

The fallout from the signing of free agent Morlon Greenwood continued Friday with the Texans giving inside linebacker Jay Foreman permission to seek a trade.

Thursday, the Texans signed Greenwood to a five-year deal worth $22.5 million, and gave three-year starter Jamie Sharper permission to seek a trade.

"I'm blindsided by the whole thing, really. I really don't know what's going on," said Foreman, who led the team in tackles in 2002. "It's just one of those deals. In this business, you can't be surprised by anything."

Although both of the Texans' starting inside linebackers are on the trading block several scenarios are possible:

• The Texans could trade both players, only one, or decide to retain both, although the latter appears unlikely.
• The team could place added emphasis on selecting an inside linebacker during the early rounds of the April draft.
• Another inside linebacker could be acquired during free agency.
Sharper, 30, the team's leading tackler each of the last two seasons, is scheduled to count $6.13 million against the salary cap in 2005. Foreman, 29, a three-year starter recovering from an ankle injury, will have a $2.21 million cap hit.

Also Friday, the Texans hired University of Virginia assistant coach Mike London as defensive line coach. London spent the past four years working as defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator for Virginia, which uses a 3-4 defense, and previously worked for four seasons with Boston College. The position has been vacant since Todd Grantham left last month to become defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns.

The Texans also signed a pair of unrestricted free agents. Fullback Moran Norris, 26, agreed to a three-year deal worth $1.9 million, including a $600,000 signing bonus, and cornerback Jason Bell, 26, signed a one-year deal worth $540,000 with a $25,000 signing bonus.

"I'm real glad to get this over," said Norris, the primary blocker the past two seasons for 1,000-yard rusher Domanick Davis. "It took a lot of stress off me being a free agent."